What to do the summer before you start a PhD

[@CaseyFieslerPhD]

If you're starting a PhD in the fall, leave a comment below to celebrate (and maybe make friends?!) - also I'm doing a livestream on Sunday 4/18 so come hang out!

[@luisangelysoto1978]

I'm still in disbelief that I'm starting my PhD in cancer biology next fall!!!

[@avhishekbiswas4251]

I am starting my PhD this Fall

[@MichaelAndrew2013]

I'm starting a PhD in Linguistics this fall!!

[@Lavender_Academic]

Starting my PhD in Educational Policy Studies w/ concentration in higher education! Congrats all!

[@MoisesSolisLordOfAll]

I'm starting a PhD in Mathematics this fall! Hi !

[@libiajimenezchavez4604]

I will be starting a PhD in History this Fall. I am SO EXCITED! Thanks for your advice!

[@CaseyFieslerPhD]

YAY! Congrats!!

[@gaca520]

I just learned that I got into University of Washington’s MLIS program and this is so useful in evaluating self care. Thanks for making this!

[@tomatochemist]

Man, I looked up your video to see if there’s anything I’m missing. I went on vacation to Hawaii and did NO work, did some day trips to the beach, found my new apartment, and visited twice - once on my own, once with my family to see the area. Otherwise I’m just doing all that little stuff like going to the dentist, getting my car serviced/tuned, and decluttering my house to prepare for packing. I figure I’m going to be stressed the next two years, why rush it? (I have to admit, I feel very guilty not being glued to my textbooks reviewing.) BTW, your videos helped me get admitted to my #1 choice of program, and I won’t owe a dime for it. Thanks!

[@CaseyFieslerPhD]

congrats!!! (And no, you absolutely should not feel guilty for not studying over the summer. What would you even be studying? You don't know yet!)

[@tomatochemist]

@@CaseyFieslerPhD I finished my majors courses back in spring of 2020, so I feel rusty mainly. Thankfully I saved every single note, exam, and slide in pair of binders, so I have the reference material still. :)

[@mariecmontas]

Thanks for this video! I will be starting a PhD in Global Health Systems in my dream program in the Fall 2022😍 Very excited!!!

[@Jacob.Cornejo]

Congratulations!

[@CaseyFieslerPhD]

Congrats!!!

[@jkfredette]

I just watched this today! It finally made something click for me: I don’t have to learn the material before the class. I also have a prior law degree and I think I was approaching starting grad school as if it were law school. I’ve been trying to find how to learn my discipline over the summer. I’m sure I know as much as everyone else coming in with a bachelors in my subject; I just thought this was like law school and I had to study ahead.

[@CaseyFieslerPhD]

ha yeah having also been to law school I know about that advice - which to be honest I didn't think was necessary then either

[@lajourdanne]

I'm finishing up my PhD this semester, and I really wish I had this video before I started the program 😂

[@Heyu7her3]

CONGRATS!!!!!!!

[@CaseyFieslerPhD]

Congrats though!!

[@eepee95]

Starting my PhD in Information Science in the Fall! Excited and nervous!

[@juanitamartin6581]

Thanks for all your advice! It has really helped me on my journey so far. Starting my PhD in Educational Psychology this fall!

[@CaseyFieslerPhD]

Congrats!!!

[@ativ55]

Just accepted my position at my dream school for Cancer Bio!! This summer I am working part time event planning for the Metabolic Health Summit, so its a way to network and stay up-to-date in the field, while still giving me time to do what i want.

[@CaseyFieslerPhD]

Wonderful! Congratulations!

[@surajpowar4915]

Thank you so much Casey. It was a very good advice. I will be starting my PhD this Fall. I will remember your suggestions. Thanks!

[@CaseyFieslerPhD]

congratulations!!

[@ew1usnr]

I have spent my summer catching up on home repairs and yard work because I will not have time to do them once the PhD program starts in the fall. (But I will still have to rake leaves when they start coming down.) I live about seven miles from the University that accepted me into their PhD program. :)

[@SpongeEvan]

Starting a PhD this fall! Deeply appreciate your online videos through this PhD application journey!

[@CaseyFieslerPhD]

Congratulations!!

[@Jacob.Cornejo]

Thank you for your videos! I am not sure where I will be going, but the list has narrowed down for me quite a bit so all these videos have been very helpful.

[@张子岳-f7r]

hi, i just want to thank you a lot for sharing this video. i feel that i can always find the video i need in your channel, lol. In the past months i was really stressed waiting for the phd interview decision, your videos help a lot! i think during this summer after my master graduation i will definitely try to enjoy probably the happiest month ever, and then devote myself to the academy :)

[@CaseyFieslerPhD]

Good for you!! Good luck!

[@p10012220]

I am starting my PhD study this fall and this video is really helpful - at least I won’t feel guilty while enjoying my summer and just not wanting to study!

[@CaseyFieslerPhD]

Congratulations!!

[@kielimepie441]

I will be starting my PhD this Fall in Evolutionary Biology & Ecology! Very excited!

[@CaseyFieslerPhD]

Congrats!!

[@nabihayousuf]

Your videos are so helpful!!! Thank you so much! Stay blessed

[@kunyutan6567]

Such an informative video! Thanks a lot for making those wonderful videos. I’m starting my PhD in the fall in Scotland and I’m wondering if it is necessary to reach out to my supervisor and tell him my decision to study at the university. Anyways, thank you for your content.

[@CaseyFieslerPhD]

I assume you're told someone (the university?)! But if you know who your advisor/supervisor will be, it's certainly good to be in touch with them.

[@JourneyLi]

I recently received my first acceptance and I’m trying to figure out what I’m going to do in the summer and found you; I’ve been really appreciative of your advice. I diiiiiiiiid however apply for a summer research program and now I’m not so sure if I should do it. Maybe I should just do a lab rotation instead …? I don’t really know how summer rotations work which is why I’m hesitant to think of it as an option but I really want to do something.

[@CaseyFieslerPhD]

It's very unusual for incoming PhD students in our program to do anything with us before they officially begin the program. Though maybe that's different other places.

[@Cassidy_Wells]

My PhD program starts in the summer 😭 I graduate with my masters in May and then hanker down and start in June, pray for me y’all.

[@CaseyFieslerPhD]

Oh wow! I hope you get at least a little time off. Good luck!

[@heavenlibound1984]

I'm looking into graduate school for Fall 2022. When I move into the PhD/Graduate School work, I will be transitioning from working full-time for most of my adult life to academia. What tips/suggestions do you have for someone like myself?

[@CaseyFieslerPhD]

Hmm I'm not sure what you're asking! But coming out of the workforce isn't a weakness in graduate school applications.

[@heavenlibound1984]

@@CaseyFieslerPhD my question was considering that some graduates, like myself, may be coming to a program right out of the workforce with only maybe a 2-3 week break in between. What would your suggestions be for us? How can we mentally prepare for the changes from civilian work to academia work?

[@CaseyFieslerPhD]

@@heavenlibound1984 I honestly think I would recommend taking a real vacation for those 2-3 weeks!

[@servantrose]

Hey Kimberly. I'm also going back to school as an adult. I have taken some time to learn study skills again and sent up my note program (evernote) so I xan be ready to take notes. I also cleaned out my Google drive so I can save things. I like watching youtubers that talk about studying, especially those in my future work field. It puts my mind in the right space so I can be less stressed and ready. I took an intro course for audit just to get my brain in that student way of thinking. Preparing my family for the switch (thinking about schedules) and praying. Otherwise i agree w her, rest and enjoy

[@larissacury7714]

Hi, Casey! Thanks once more. I do have a question. What about for international students who are willing to apply to a phd ? I've seen some online summer schools, but they all seem to be too expensive (especially because we have to convert the currency). Any tips?

[@CaseyFieslerPhD]

Well this video was about the summer after you're accepted to a phd program... if you're looking for advice on applying (or e.g. things to do in undergrad to set yourself up well for a phd) I have a lot of videos on that too!

[@trangxm947]

I applied for PhD but the committee recommended me to do MS first. I think I better do MS because I move to more advance in my field which is more computational. I will start my MS in bioinformatic which requires a lot of Unix, Perl and Python. Can you please recommend me the books I should buy to learn programming as a beginner to intermediate? Thank you so much

[@CaseyFieslerPhD]

I'm afraid I can't help you with this! But I recommend asking the program what you will need to know, and if it's something you need to learn before you start, they might have suggestions for resources.

[@aliahmedali655]

Thank you for sharing information, Just have a question, I am CEO and founder of a startup, and I want to do a PhD in engineering at Stanford, does that helped me or it will works against my application?

[@CaseyFieslerPhD]

Having work experience isn't inherently good or inherently bad, I would say it depends on the overall narrative of why you want to pursue a PhD.

[@brycekim4246]

I got accepted into PhD in CS department at University of Central Florida in Fall 2021!! I am trying to research HCI field, which is ur research area. Loll. I have one question. I am assigned to TA not RA I’m my first PhD year. I am worried that I might not focus on my research in my first year to do TAship. Can you give me advice for this case?

[@CaseyFieslerPhD]

Yes, definitely do not bring it up/complain. :) It's typical for students to TA at the beginning, and it's far more useful for you if you're fortunate enough to have RA funding for part of your PhD for that to be later in your PhD when your research is really ramped up. Also TAing is important experience and you'll get more out of it when you're learning things, too! I have a video about PhD funding models that is probably fairly accurate for your program that might be helpful - be aware that RAships are tied to grant funding and are a limited resource. Also congrats, there are some great people at UCF. :)

[@auxomox]

I’m going to be applying for PhD this fall, I was told I need to reach out to professors in the programs I’m applying to as future advisors. I’m planning on reaching out starting in May, is that too late already, and do you have advice for how to reach out? I’m a straight forward person, but I’m afraid stating my intention when first reaching out, might be seen as rude and won’t garner a response. 💕

[@CaseyFieslerPhD]

Yes, here you are! twitter.com/cfiesler/status/1301907707579031555 And I don't think there's any need to reach out earlier than a couple months before the deadline, though I don't know if norms might be different in different fields.

[@olumideayeni6347]

How would you even have an advisor before STARTING a PhD...you haven't even done lab rotations yet...?

[@CaseyFieslerPhD]

It is very common in some disciplines to be admitted with an advisor.

[@olumideayeni6347]

@@CaseyFieslerPhD But you STILL have to take classes and do lab rotations, you can’t be admitted automatically assuming you’re working with ONE particular professor. That’s why they have lab rotations during the first year.

[@CaseyFieslerPhD]

@@olumideayeni6347 I am telling that you in some disciplines lab rotations are not a thing. You are admitted to work with an advisor. Sometimes people switch, but at least in my department that is very rare.

[@yb8524]

Make sure you know how to cite as you write!